Lesson 14

Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20–21

The following assignments include various learning activities, such as questions, lists, essays, charts, comparisons, contrasts, and surveys. To receive credit for this lesson, you must complete the number of assignments indicated below and submit them to your institute instructor or administrator. You may submit your work either electronically or on paper, handwritten or typed.

Each lesson should take approximately 60–90 minutes to complete, the same amount of time you would typically spend in a weekly institute class. Since reading the scripture block listed in the lesson heading is expected of all institute students prior to class, the estimated time for each assignment does not include the time you need to spend reading the scripture block.

Complete two of the following assignments:

After His resurrection, Jesus Christ appeared to many of His disciples during a 40-day ministry. Based on the references listed, complete the chart below by identifying whom He visited, where it was, and what was done or said:

Read John 20:9 and the institute student manual commentary for Mark 16:11, 13; Luke 24:10–11, “Why Didn’t the Apostles Believe the Account of Mary Magdalene and the Other Women?” (p. 194). Write a brief explanation of why the disciples initially found it hard to believe that the Savior had risen from the dead.

Write a paragraph about how the number and variety of witnesses contribute to your testimony of the reality of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection.

Read Matthew 27:52; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Alma 11:43–44. Write a paragraph describing how Jesus Christ’s Resurrection affects you and how it makes you feel to know that you will have a resurrected perfect body that will never die.

Read the Bible Dictionary entry for “Messiah” (p. 731) and read Luke 24:13–35, then write responses to the following questions:

Luke 24:17–21 recounts two disciples sad because they had hoped Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah who would redeem Israel, but He had been crucified. According to the Bible Dictionary entry for “Messiah,” what kind of a deliverer were many Jews looking for?

How could this expectation make it difficult for some Jews to accept the idea that the Messiah would suffer and die?

According to the Bible Dictionary entry for “Messiah,” what did the faithful realize about the scriptural prophesies of the Messiah?

In Luke 24:26, the risen Savior explained to the two disciples that the Messiah was meant to have suffered and died; and then “beginning at Moses and all the prophets [the scriptures of the Old Testament], he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27; see also vv. 44–45). Search in the Bible Topical Guide under the entry “Jesus Christ, Prophecies about” (p. 252) and list 10 references from the Old Testament that might have helped the two disciples understand that Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of the prophecies about the Messiah. Include a brief summary about what is taught in each scriptural reference.

Read the student manual commentary for Mark 16:12, “Why Did the Lord Withhold His Identity When He Appeared to Cleopas and His Companion on the Road to Emmaus?” (p. 195). Then read Luke 24:13–44; Alma 11:42–46 and write a paragraph about what these scriptures teach about a resurrected body.

Luke 24:32 indicates that the two disciples’ hearts burned within them while the Savior talked with them about the scriptures. Write one paragraph explaining the insight Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3; 9:7–9 give to help understand the way the Spirit communicates with the heart. Write a second paragraph describing a time in your life when the scriptures, or someone teaching, caused your heart to “burn” or caused you to feel the Spirit in another way.

3. John 21. The Savior’s Appearances to His Apostles at the Sea of Galilee

What results did the Apostles have after fishing all night on their own?

What were the results when they followed the Lord’s counsel?

Compare this experience with an earlier one recorded in Luke 5:4–11. In what ways were the two experiences similar?

Write a paragraph about lessons you can learn from these accounts. What do both accounts teach about our own efforts without the Lord? How does that compare with the results of our efforts when we follow the Lord’s guidance?

Read the student manual commentary for Luke 24:34, “Why Did Jesus Appear to Peter Apart from the Others?” (p. 200). Explain how the conversation in John 21:15–17 would have reaffirmed Peter’s leadership role among the Apostles.

Read John 21:18–19. Keeping in mind that tradition holds that Peter was put to death by crucifixion, write responses to the following questions and writings:

Write an explanation of what the Savior said to Peter in John 21:18–19.

Mark in your scriptures the two instances in John 21 where the Savior told Peter, “Follow me” (John 21:19, 22). List some ways Peter was an example of following Jesus Christ, both in life and in death.

When Peter asked about what would happen to John, the Savior replied, “What is that to thee? follow thou me.” This redirected Peter’s attention toward his own duties and responsibilities instead of worrying about someone else’s responsibilities. Read Matthew 7:3–5; 2 Corinthians 10:12–13 and write your thoughts about the importance of not comparing ourselves with others and focusing on our own callings and duties in following the Savior.